Parliament Curbs Prime Minister’s Power

The Iraqi parliament voted unanimously on Monday to prevent the government from passing important reforms without its approval, according to a report from Reuters.

The chamber acted after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (pictured) unilaterally enacted reforms in August that it considered to be in violation of the constitution, including his dismissal of the positions of vice presidents and deputy prime ministers, and cuts to salaries of government employees.

Last week over 60 members of Iraq’s ruling State of Law coalition threatened to pull parliamentary support for Abadi’s reforms – aimed at stamping out corruption and incompetence – if he did not heed their demands for wider consultation.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s office on Wednesday said:

“We affirm our determination and our resolve to continue to reform and to fight against corruption and the corrupt and not to retreat from that despite the challenges and obstacles.

“Attempts by those have lost their privileges to block reforms or turn the clock back and reverse what we have achieved will fail because the will of the citizens is more powerful than them and will uproot corruption and achieve justice in Iraq.“